Flint Glass
Hierakonpolis + EP Dashur
2003
CD3pack / Fw005
Flint Glass, with his first release ‘Hierakonpolis’, appears already in the foreground of finest electronica.
"Hierakonpolis" could be compared, in some ways, to projects like Autechre, Beefcake or For a Space ;
Almost everything imaginable in sounds is being collected, deconstructed and rebuilt afterwards.
This is a unique and vast collection of sounds, ranging from catchy melodies and samples mercilessly interrupted by distorted beats.
The cold polyrhythmic drumcodes are bet into a melted ambiance of different experimentations. It's the warm timbre of this dark ambient recording which creates its own unique sonic profile.
tracklist :
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This is the re-release of the debut-album by FG aka Gwenn Trémorin on Funkwelten. G. Trémorin is the owner of Brume Records and after the release of his album on his own label, he now get the opportunity to license it to Funkwelten. This debut cd is worthy of examination, containing an impressive source of inspiration. The opening track "Hierakonpolis" directly illustrates the knowledge and intelligence of this French project. The tribal and industrial elements are melting together in a surprising trance distorted apotheosis. There's no better introduction to get used to the sound of a new band! But the 2nd piece "Interlude 1" sounds totally different. The title speaks for itself, a sort of intermezzo. Well, I don't really understand why it's necessary to put such a piece at 2nd in the line. Anyway, the tribal trance starts again with the excellent "Neuroscan". You can feel all the conviction and love that flow through this new great cut. Time for a new interlude…and having a look at the tracklist, I now realize that all the tracks (except the 5 remixes at the end) have been surrounded by interludes of a few seconds. It's a part of the concept that I don't personally like, but when you get several irresistible pieces within, it's a short pain to endure! The entire album doesn't sound the same tribal way, but also explores soundscapes like the excellent "Heliotrop". FG also shows an impressive wealth of electronic sounds on this very ambient-minded cut. The final songs are 5 remixes by bands like Oil.10, Dither, C-Drik, HIV+ and Kom-Intern. Dither did a great job on the trance-tribal orientated "Middle Kingdom dust". C-Drik (from Ammo) accentuates the same influences on the hard mix of "Heliotrop" while Kom-Intern goes a little bit techno on the title track. This is refreshing and astonishing industrial powder! This is more than a promising band; this is a fully successful debut!
On a beau commencé à le connaitre par cœur, on ne se lasse pas du Hierakonpolis de Flint Glass,
Flint Glass is the work of Gwenn from Brume records, fusing a variety of industrial instrumentation and a dark brooding sound, in my opinion the opening and title track should have been used in the Matrix, ambient break beat, rhythmical noise and dark electronica siding more with the dark electronica, sounding slightly restrained within the confines of the speaker helps give Flint Glass depth and atmosphere where needed, combined with some warm ambient soundscapes makes this release damn good. A wholesome 18 tracks in length (every other track being short interludes up untill track 13) there are few tracks for the dancefloor, but that doesnt distract from the fact this release is a compelling and interesting listen from start to finish, one for those more relaxed paced days with plenty to keep you interested, good stuff - more please. Funkwelten is a side label of the German gothic/dark electro label Black Rain. On Funkwelten more complex electronic music is released. Flint Glass produces music somewhere between idm, electronica and industrial. The tracks are mostly evolving sound structures. They begin quiet and develop into more rhythmic (sometimes hectic) sound sculptures that have a sort of quite ending. The title track and ‘Dust particles’ are good examples of this. The mood is mostly dark and haunting. This is due to the sounds ands subtle melodies in the background that complement the rhythms. On this cd is also the Dahshur EP, which makes this disc, with 18 tracks and almost 78 minutes of music, a rather tiring listening experience. Highly recommended to fans of the music by acts like Autechre and Gridlock.
Project FLINT GLASS is creation Gwenn Tremorin, the chapter of French electro-industrial label Brume Records. Its first album was published here in the usual size, but German label Funkwelten in autumn republished work with 5 bonus- tracks from singla "Dahshur Ep" and therefore I made its selection in favor of the latter. I immediately report that "Hierakonpolis" I consider one of the best albums in the genre of rhythmical embiyentnogo indastriela in always, that I listen to a similar music. After hearing disk for the first time, I immediately drew parallels with relizami MLADA FRONTA, embiyentnymi sketchings of the early HAUJOBB, melodious idm GRIDLOCK and heaped by kollazhnymi intro- FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY period "Hard Wired". But in this case FLINT GLASS it cannot be reproached in the second-rateness, because its plate sounds originally and very modernovo. By the way, these features are characteristic for another relizov of company. The Frenchman has the extraordinarily deep, gloomy, futuristic and gripping visual music, in which there is much details, special drayva, hypnotism and which is ideally balanced in the atmospheric- rhythmical part. Before us the impressive and scale industrial embiyentnoye fabric, rhythms in which play far from last role. They sooner or later appear in each track and have imitation velvet -xopovuh or tekhnoidnuyu nature. When desired inside many tracks it is possible to isolate the three- four minute fragments, which easily will be entered in industrial di -dje?ki1 set. Track "Dust Particles" I consider present masterpiece and residency card of project. Album should be listened to wholly and so that nothing it would distract from the music. Specifically, in this case you will obtain true kayf and you feel the unique sonic constructions FLINT GLASS. Album "Hierakonpolis" automatically falls in my list of best electro-industrial relizov of 2003 to the uppermost line. For the first time i do not have any on this score of any doubts. My special recommendations - you will not pass the pearl of genre! [ 10 marks ]
Dieses Projekt ist nicht leicht zu erschließen. Auf der Platte gehen die Melodien ungewohnte, verschlungene Wege, die Beats sind immer anders und überraschend. Wenn man denkt, ein Lied zu verstehen, macht es unvorhergesehene Wendungen. „Hierakonopolis“ stellt eine kunstvolle Ausarbeitung von elektronischer Musik dar, fernab von jedem Anspruch der Tanzbarkeit. Eher haben sie sich einer filmischen Musik verschrieben. Ihre Musik ist die perfekteste Untermalung für ein Untergangsfantasy oder der Soundtrack für Dungeon Computerspiele. Die ruhige und zugleich bedrohliche Atmosphäre wird erzeugt durch dezente Anleihen aus dem Industrialbereich und leicht verkratzten, dreckigen, aber dennoch breiten Synthieflächen. Unterbrochen werden die Instrumentals durch kurze Intermezzi. Ab dem 13. Lied bekommt der Hörer dann noch mal die volle Ladung ohne Unterbrechungen in Form der 5 Track EP „Dahshur“, welche noch zusätzlich als Bonus enthalten ist. Wie schon zu Anfang erwähnt: dem Hörer wird vollste Konzentration abverlangt. Nebenbei hören ist nicht.
Lo primero que se me viene a la mente, es quien hay detrás del proyecto Flint Glass, en apariencia, es el primer trabajo de este proyecto, pero en el caso que tengo entre manos es una reedición por el sello Funk Welten 2003 del mismo trabajo editado por Brume Recors 2002, con algunas diferencias importantes, en el trabajo del 2002 los últimos cortes eran remezclas de otros músicos como: Dust Mix por Dither, Heliotrop Ixed por Oil 10,Bloody Mix por C-drik (Ammo), Hierakonpolis Mixed por Kom-Intern, Click'n Noise Mix por Hiv +, y en el caso que tengo entre manos los últimos 5 temas corresponden al EP Dashur. También anteriormente bajo otros nombres había sacado material y participado en recopilatorios, como podrás ver si visitas su pagina oficial.
Hierakonpolis is the debut release from Flint Glass and was released on Brume Records. Now Funkwelten releases the German version exclusively including five tracks taken from the previously unreleased Dahshur EP. Flint Glass works with a method that uses only sampling tools. Sometimes the songs become even danceable like Hierakonpolis, Amenemhat and Heliotrop. Hypnotizing melodies and well chosen industrial sounds, combined with good arrangements make Flint Glass a very remarkable project. Also these five newly introduced tracks hold different layers
Flint Flint Glass dürften hierzulande nur wenigen bekannt sein, auch wenn das Projekt in Frankreich bereits recht erfolgreich ist. Musikalisch geht es um eine Verschmelzung von Industrial und Dark Ambient, also eine passende Mischung um auf dem Label Funkwelten zu erscheinen, welches sich langsam einen Namen macht, was qualitativ hochwertige Musik aus den genannten Kernbereichen betrifft. Die vorliegende CD beinhaltet neben der regulären CD auch noch eine bisher unveröffentlichte EP namens „Dashur". Die Songs an sich treffen die oben genannte Verschmelzung im Detail und gefallen durch eine angenehme Atmosphäre und wirken an sich teilweise sehr experimentell, ohne dennoch den Hörer zu sehr anzustrengen. Teilweise kann man sich die Songs sicherlich auch als clubtauglich bezeichnen. Auch wenn die Songs an sich instrumental gehalten sind, so mischen sich etwa beim Song „Dust Particles" auch verzerrte Sprachfetzen in die Musik mit ein. Neben dem genannten Song ist vor allen Dingen „Amenemhat" als Anspieltipp zu empfehlen, um sich einen passenden Eindruck zu machen.
För ett par veckor sedan och som en blixt från en klar himmel slog franska Flint Glass sedan ner hos mig, och redan efter att ha kört plattan rakt igenom två gånger var jag såld. Skivan, som tidigare endast funnits tillgänglig i Frankrike, har tack vare tyska bolaget Funkwelten nu även givits ut för den tyska och troligtvis även övriga europeiska marknaden. Förutom originallåtarna innehåller helinstrumentala 'Hierakonpolis' också fem spår från den tidigare outgivna 'Dahshur EP' vilket gör en platta på en bra bit över sjuttio minuter. Och det är inte vilka minuter som helst. Gwenn Trémorin, som står bakom Flint Glass samt skivbolaget Brume Records, har lyckats oerhört bra med att kombinera dark ambient och industriella medelhårda raka rytmer. Låtarna flyter ihop, märkligt nog mycket tack vare korta så kallade 'Interlude', och gör plattan till en spännande resa genom ett mörkt, kargt och avlägset land. Framför allt bakgrunderna är riktigt svarta medan övriga arrangemang gör det hela mindre dystert. Inledande titelspåret börjar ganska direkt. Mystiska ljud möts upp av stadiga rytmer och ger ett positivt första intryck. 'Neuroscan' drar igång som ett traditionellt dark ambient-spår men omvandlas efter ett par minuter till ett mer elektronisk dito. Den fulländade 'Dust Particles' byggs sakta upp och strax innan sjuminutersgränsen tonas den ut och plattans mest intressanta spår är till ända. Rytmerna i 'Middle Kingdom' blir rejält snabba och pumpande, något som känns oväntat men välkommet. Utan att för den skull ha mycket övrigt gemensamt med EBM-genren finns i vissa rytmer och ljud genomgående gemensamma nämnare på plattan. De fem sista spåren från 'Dahshur EP' är något annorlunda. På liveinspelade 'Al Hasard' finns dämpade influenser från mellanöstern, 'Closer' har trovärdiga rytmer och ljud mot en rent magisk bakgrund medan 'Germ Code' kunde kommit från ett experimentellt technoband. Det gömda spår som tittar fram efter 'Saqqara Temple' är dock det mest annorlunda med en långsam gitarr, trummaskin och röstsamplingar. 'Hierakonpolis' är experimentell, annorlunda och en av de mest förtroendeingivande plattorna i år. Låttips: 'Dust Particles', 'Amenemhat' och 'Middle Kingdom'. Författare : Martin Engström / Metica |
Interview conducted by Twilight Zone TZ : When is Flint Glass born ? Which have your first musical experiences been ? From where does your interest for this kind of music issue ? Which are your favourite past artists and who are the ones you prefer nowadays ?
FG : I’ve played bass guitar in a certain number of new-wave bands, before joining Stadium, that was a kind of pop noise musical experiment, rather-indeed, we appreciated artists like Sonic Youth, Sebadoh or My Bloody Valentine very much at the time. I’ve always been into very different in terms of music, as an adolescent, was found of new-wave bands like The Cure, Joy Division or Modern English, and I think the melancholy of their music still has a strong influence on my own work. I’ve also been interested in trip-hop and drum’n bass bands such as Third Eye Foundation, Photek or Portishead, and more recently I took a real interest in various kinds of experimental electronic music with groups like Arovane, Scorn, Beefcake, Black Lung, Electronicat, Aphex Twin, Ammo, Panacea, Somatic Responses, Pan Sonic, Vromb, Silk Saw, To rococo rot, Architect, Ultra TZ : How have you chosen the name of Flint Glass ? FG : I got the idea while reading an archaeology magazine and I just thought the word “Flint Glass” sounded OK.
TZ : Which emotions or messages do you like to spread to your public with your music ?
FG : In fact, I’m trying to make the listener travel through a cinematographic universe built up around dreamlike atmospheres. But there’s no particular message to be spread to the public ; it’s pure emotion!
TZ : What does it mean to you to compose this kind of music ? To what does "Hierakonpolis” inspire ? What does the title means to you ? Which are the contents, thoughts, and its lyrics references ? Which are the atmospheres you wanted to underline with this new album ? Are you satisfied with the result obtained ?
FG : I’ve been thinking about making a record based on visual atmospheres for a long time now. In fact Hierakonpolis was a great ancient Egyptian city that was the capital city of the country long before the pyramids. In some cemeteries of the city, skeletons wear odd marks on their vertebras, that’s why scientists suggested that people could have been sacrificed there…The idea is to convey an impression of heat, in a desert world, both ghostly and mysterious. I’m rather satisfied with the work done on this album, both myself and by my friends remixers who were all able to bring to light new aspects of my songs, or even to recreate them in their own way. TZ : Which are the instruments used in this album ? FG : The French scene is terribly exciting today! I’m glad such people should work in France, all the more so as we are in very good terms with many of them, like Remy’s (Mlada Fronta) Parametric, Divine Comedy, Vaccum, Cortex, M Tronic, La Citadelle, or Yb70, with whom we collaborate on the set up of concerts, festivals or exchanges of remixes between our artists.There are excellent new labels that offer a wide range of different productions, Component, for instance, with Dryft’s amazing new record, DTA records, Huchuch (With Lilith an excellent new album in sub bass experimental ambient style, and C-Drik )or Ad Noiseam, and always Hymen (with Dead Hollywood Stars excellent new album) just to name a few.
TZ : Any future project ? FG : I’ve just finished a song for the original soundtrack of “The Zombie Commando from Hell”, a Canadian movie that was inspired by Steph Dumais’ drawings. Implant, Tarmvred, Mlada Fronta, Mimetic, Empusae….. also worked on this project, by the way. Besides, Holger Vice (one of the Brume Records artists) and I wish to work on a whole album together, very much in the style of the very last track of “Hierakonpolis”, I think. TZ : You are also the manager of the french label Brume Records. How have you had this idea? Which musical kinds have you thought to follow? Which are the artists of Brume? Which are the coming releases ? FG : Two years ago, my friend Boris Volant from Atelier 112, and I met Matthieu Maire from Celluloid Mata, who had just created his own label with Steph Alt “Vaccum”, and who really motivated us for the creation of a label of our own; thus, in December 2000, Brume Records was born.
TZ : Is there anything else you would like to mention about Flint Glass ? |
Mlada Fronta, Mimetic, Wired Brain et Flint Glass au Glaz'art (29/11/02) Une fois encore, le Glaz'art, réputé pour sa programmation éclectique et iconoclaste, nous offrait, en ce glacial vendredi du 29 novembre, un plateau d'artistes issus de la scène "indus-expérimentale", des plus épicé. |
